Introduction:  Sheep Creek is spawning and rearing habitat for Snake River Basin summer steelhead, Snake River Basin spring chinook salmon, and redband trout.  The summer steelhead and spring/summer chinook are federally listed under ESA as threatened species.  Redband trout are on the Regional Forester's Sensitive Species List.

Historic timber harvest and roading removed larger conifers from the valley bottom, reducing the future recruitment of large wood to the stream.  Historic grazing has caused impacts to the riparian area.  This project will improve the riparian area and wood in the stream through planting and large wood additions.

Existing condition:  Sheep Creek (within the project area) is broken into 2 reaches.  The valley bottom is primarily meadow type habitat with the presence of some conifers.  The conifers consist primarily of lodgepole pine.  Deciduous shrubs are limited within the project area, but willow and alder are present.  Evidence of beaver is present on site.  Historic timber harvest and roading removed larger conifers from the valley bottom, reducing the future recruitment of large wood debris to the stream.  Historic grazing has impacted the riparian area.

In the late 1980’s the Wallowa-Whitman cooperated with Bonneville Power Administration to place sill log structures and exclude livestock from Sheep Creek.  Most of these log sills will be removed or partially removed within this project.  

The project objective is to improve spring/summer chinook habitat, summer steelhead habitat and migratory habitat for bull trout, specifically through improving or increasing the following habitat elements.

•   Improve riparian & wetland diversity, vigor and function
•   Improve floodplain function
•   Improve water capture, storage and safe release within the floodplain.
•   Increase quantity and quality of pools within Sheep Creek
•   Increase fish cover
•   Increase habitat complexity
•   Increase forage availability
•   Increase residual pool depth
•   Increase number of large and medium pieces of large woody debris in the stream
•   Increase spawning gravel recruitment

Specific Actions:  The Sheep Creek Large Woody Debris and Planting Project would place wood within 2.5 miles of Sheep Creek for a total of 27 structure sites. Approximately, 5000 deciduous seedlings and 5000 deciduous cuttings will be planted within 3 miles of the project area.  Existing shrubs with heavy browse would be fenced to protect the shrubs from wild ungulates.

Benefits include:  Improved riparian & wetland diversity, vigor and function; improved floodplain function; improved water capture, storage and safe release within the floodplain; increased quantity and quality of pools; increased fish cover; increased habitat complexity; increased forage availability; increased number of large and medium pieces of large woody debris in the stream; and increased spawning gravel recruitment.